Can't Help Faking in Love is an enchanting story about fake dating and fake feelings that turn in to the real thing. Harsha and Veer have palpable chemistry from their first on-page interaction as barista and customer. Their banter, sweet smiles and shy glances turn into "practice" holding hands, hugs, and forehead kisses as their fake dating takes off. The tension between the two continues to grow as they get closer and are able to lean on each other and let their walls down. I was internally screaming for them to "kiss already", and when they did it was everything!
I loved the side characters that were supportive of Veer and Harsha. Veer, his mom and brother, have good relationships with each other, even if in the beginning they lean on Veer a little too much. But the way they show up for each other, even in small ways like short phone calls or food left on the doorstep, is pure love. Harsha's family is a little intense and they make nice for appearances, but she has a wonderful Auntie who gives her some sage advice as well as unwavering support. Harsha and Veer also have some close friends who have become their found family, and if there's any way to get me to truly love a story, found family is it.
This was a truly enjoyable and immersive read and I'm looking forward to more South Asian representation in romance novels!

~Thank you to Random House Publishing, Dell, Swati Hedge and NetGalley for this complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own~

Got an ARC of this, thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse! It was really lovely. I enjoyed the different sit-com quotes the started each chapter; that was a fun touch! I also enjoyed the two main characters, Veer and Harsha! They fake date their way into love, but I enjoyed the ride.

After her boyfriend dumps her, Harsha is in need of a date to her cousin’s wedding. She asks Veer, a barista at the coffee shop she frequents, to be her date. In need of some cash to fund his brother’s tuition, Veer agrees to be Harsha’s fake boyfriend—a role he’s fit to play as he’s an aspiring actor.

This was a cute, easy read. I really liked both Harsha and Veer as characters and thought that they complemented each other so well.

There were a few too many subplots that were introduced throughout the book that I felt took us away from the love story. While most of the subplots were resolved, I felt that a few weren’t by the time we made it to the end.

Thank you to Random House, Swati Hegde, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute read! Harsha and Veer had the best chemistry since page 1! I loved it and will read from swati more.

this was honestly such a banger. I love Harsha and Veer's relationship. Their fake dating was super fun and I loved the writing Hedge performs

This was a DNF for me- our main characters were annoying and I could not get into it i gave it 50 pages and I just couldn't continue- just was not for me

In this touching romance set in the lively cities of Bangalore and Mumbai, readers are welcomed into a world of pretend dating and intense attraction. The story features Harsha, a freelance photographer who left her wealthy but distant family to follow her dream, and Veer, a dedicated son and brother who paused his acting ambitions to support his family. Despite their different backgrounds, their lives come together in a pretend relationship that feels real.

The main plot centers around Harsha needing a fake boyfriend to bring to family gatherings—a familiar scenario that quickly pulls readers into their growing relationship. As they deal with the ups and downs of pretending, their chemistry gradually deepens, adding warmth and humor to their interactions. The "intimacy practice" scenes were especially noteworthy, highlighting the fake-dating theme and offering refreshingly authentic moments.

Harsha and Veer feel very relatable as characters. Harsha's quest for approval from her family, her passion for photography, and her coffee obsession make her an engaging character. Veer's willingness to sacrifice his dreams for his family and his charming personality make him someone you can't help but root for. Their struggles—like money issues, family expectations, and personal aspirations—add richness to their characters and a realistic touch to the romance.

The writing style is straightforward and filled with dialogue that brings the characters to life, making the book easy to read. The story shifts between Harsha and Veer's perspectives, allowing readers to understand their thoughts and challenges. This book delves into themes of family loyalty, honesty, and the complexity of relationships from different financial backgrounds. It invites readers to think about how much one should sacrifice for one's family, the importance of honesty in love, and the beauty and challenges of navigating cultural expectations in relationships.

This romance shines with its chemistry. The witty exchanges and gradual development of feelings make the story engaging and heartwarming. I enjoyed this book, especially its rich cultural elements, like the colorful wedding celebrations and family dynamics. Veer was a particularly lovable hero, showing both strength and vulnerability.

"Can't Help Faking in Love" is a fantastic pick for romance fans, especially those who love the fake-dating theme and stories set within South Asian culture. Its charming characters, strong themes, and delightful plot make it an excellent read for anyone looking for an uplifting romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the ARC!

Cute but felt a little underdeveloped? I wish I’d gotten more depth from the characters, more backstory with the parents that could really give me more of a reason to root for their relationship. It felt surface level, and while it was a cute story about how on the whole, I was left with wanting more.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Harsha is looking for a date to her cousins wedding. She asks someone at the coffee shop she frequents to be her plus one. She grows to like him the more time she spends with him. A quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Can’t Help Faking in Love tells the story of Harsha, a young woman who’s well-off family has ties to Bollywood, and Veer, a barista who dreams of making it big as an actor in India. Veer is Harsha’s favorite barista, and when she finds herself without a date to her cousin’s wedding, decides to hire Veer to be her date.

I truly loved this story! Harsha and Veer had chemistry from the first time we see them at the cafe, and I loved the banter and tension they had throughout the story. Beyond the romance, the story really focused on two young people finding their purpose in life and their careers while living in the shadows of their family, which I thing a lot of twenty- and thirty-somethings will relate to!

This was also the first book that I’ve read that was set in India, and I loved all of the details about Bangalore and learning about Indian wedding customs.

A wonderful read that I’d definitely recommend to any romance fan!

Can’t Help Faking in Love was a four star read for me. Harsha comes from a wealthy family and is trying to make it on her own as a photographer. She propositions her favorite (very handsome) barista Veer to be her fake boyfriend for upcoming family events. I instantly fell in love with Harsha and Veer as this story had great character development. If you love a book with fake dating, slow burn and minimal spice I highly recommend Can’t Help Faking in Love.

I loved Swati’s first book, so I had to read this one. And it’s so good! Fake dating is a fave trope of mine, and it hit all the marks. Harsha and Veer were superb together.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! The fake dating trope is always fun and I thought their relationship dynamic was cute. Plus, I love Bollywood and Bollywood movies, so that added to the fun for me.

This is a sweet book. The characters are great and I love the depiction of many different types of family dynamics. The two main characters really grow into their own and I appreciate that there is no miscommunication or third act breakup that feels disingenuous to the story.

-fake dating
-he falls first
-found family
-.5 spice

This is a sweet, cute and perfect Bollywood Vibe Romance.
Tropes: Fake dating, Barista x Photographer, One bed trope, Set In Bangalore, Slow Burn, He fell First
I liked this more than “Match me If you Can”, may be because the characters are relatable in this book.
Harsha Godbole a budding Photographer who came to Bangalore after leaving her rich parents to become an independent one and do what she loves. Veer Kannan a barista who wants to become an Actor. They start to fake-date to appear as a couple for Harsha’s cousin wedding and in return Veer could pay off his brother MBA tuition.
Their chemistry is just perfect. The is evident while reading, along with sweet glances and stolen touches. The slow burn is done really well without making you lose interest. What I loved the most is Veer’s attentiveness to little things which make the most loveable. One of my favourite scene is where he learns and ties the saree for her.

Cherry on top is the Quote from various show at the beginning of each chapter.
Apart from romance this book perfectly depicted the family issues, Indian Culture in the book through the wedding and food choices. All the characters really bring out the emotions especially Pinky Aunty & Veer’s Mom.

What I didn’t like is the Third-act breakup, how Veer behaved in the end made Harsha feel. Its just felt unnecessary and can sense it coming. Expected some grovelling from Veer…

Perfect romance book for the Love season 🥰

Thank You NETGALLEY and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine/Dell for this ARC !

Can't Help Falling in Love is a fun fake-dating tale set in Bangalore, filled with Bollywood and filmi vibes, meddling family members, and two individuals who find themselves falling in love and facing challenges and triumphs alike. Highly recommend this read from Swati Hegde! Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

I enjoyed Swati Hegde's debut novel, Match Me If You Can, so I was excited to be able to read the ARC for this book as well!

This book was exactly what I expected- full of tropes and predictable twists and turns, equivalent to a Hallmark movie. But that isn't a negative- everyone needs a little hope and love in their lives, and this type of media can be a great way to find that.

I enjoyed seeing more of India through the author's eyes, not only in the locations but in the various experiences that the characters had throughout the story. I love learning more about other cultures through reading, and I appreciated that this book had that aspect.

3.5 stars rounded up!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-ARC!

First of all I love the cover! It definitely made me want to read the book. The story was very well written and I could not put it down!

First and foremost, a special thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

There were many times after sitting through hours of Bollywood movie marathons, I would begin to search high and low for a book that could replicate the magical vibes Indian Rom-Coms give off. Finally, I found that book.

This book low-key gives forbidden love vibes in the sense that both main characters come from very distinct social classes. Harsha, a socialite amateur photographer, meets Veer, a barista dreaming of one day becoming an actor. She proposes a contract that will help get her family off her back about having a significant other and get Veer into the Bollywood scene: fake dating.

I absolutely loved this book. The pace, the chemistry between the MCs, the bits and pieces of Indian culture weaved into the story, the difficult topic of duty, the complexity behind family, and the serendipity of love. It was all weaved perfectly into a beautiful story. Not to mention, this was a closed-door romance but the steaminess was still in the room with us as we read.

Honestly, someone call Dharma Productions because I need this on screen now. Giving this beauty a 4.3

I thought this book was really cute. I loved the dynamic between the main characters - they were both funny, relatable and their banter was so good! I love that she showed multiple family dynamics while showing some hardships of Indian family culture. I definitely feel like some things left you wondering like Harsha/Veer dealt with their family issues after they came to head. Outside of that, the story was super cute and a really quick read. I would give it 3.5 stars but will round up to 4. Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!